Arundel man charged in 1997 molestations

A Glen Burnie man has been charged with molesting two young children nearly a decade ago, after he allegedly made disturbing comments about hurting children, Anne Arundel County police said yesterday.

James Matthew Thomas, 29, is being held at the county detention center on $2.5 million bail. He was charged Thursday with two counts each of assault, perverted practice and second-, third- and fourth-degree sex offense, and one count of possession of child pornography.

In March 1997, Thomas was charged with sexually abusing two children, ages 3 and 5, in their home. But the family of the alleged victims declined to cooperate with the investigation, so the charges were dropped.

Thomas admitted himself this month to John Hopkins Hospital, saying he was having thoughts of molesting and harming children, said Officer Sara Schriver, a police spokeswoman.

Police were contacted and served a search warrant at Thomas' home on Crain Highway and the home of a close relative and said they discovered a cache of child pornography.

The investigation led to the location of the alleged victims of the 1997 incidents, and the old case was reopened.

Police are looking into whether Thomas had questionable contact with other children. Anyone with information is urged to call Detective Brian Carney at 410-222-3476.